Definition of Household Waste
Household waste refers to the byproducts of domestic activities, which may include hazardous materials such as batteries and cleaning products. These items should be handled safely and disposed of properly to avoid potential risks. Non-hazardous waste includes items such as food leftovers, paper, and glass, which can be recycled or converted into compost【1】.
Problems Associated with Household Waste
Failing to dispose of household waste properly, especially hazardous waste, poses environmental risks. Effective waste management begins at home by minimizing the amount of waste generated and considering whether items can be reused instead of discarded. Recyclable materials such as paper, glass, empty bottles, and cans should be sent to recycling facilities. Organic household waste can be converted into natural compost instead of being thrown away, contributing to environmental preservation and soil enrichment【2】.
Methods of Household Waste Disposal
1. Sanitary Landfilling
Modern landfills have evolved from simple waste dumps to more scientific and environmentally friendly facilities. Sanitary landfills aim to minimize the impact of waste on the environment and groundwater. Layers are constructed to separate waste:
- The lower layers contain lighter and potentially toxic waste to prevent it from contaminating groundwater.
- According to the University of Michigan, a layer of soil is added daily over the waste to facilitate decomposition before the barrier between the waste and groundwater deteriorates【3】.
Sanitary landfills require continuous maintenance and treatment of leachate and management of toxic gases to prevent environmental damage. However, drawbacks include consuming land resources and limiting urban development as these landfills are often located on city outskirts, making nearby areas less desirable for real estate【3】.
2. Incineration
Waste incineration typically involves the following steps【4】:
- Storing waste and burning it in specialized furnaces, resulting in ash at the bottom and the release of hot gases upwards.
- Cooling the hot gases and recovering heat through steam generation.
- Treating cooled gases to remove air pollutants and managing residues from the treatment process.
- Releasing treated gases into the atmosphere via an exhaust fan and chimney.
3. Recycling Usable Materials
Sorting waste is essential to increase the quantity and quality of recyclables. Waste is categorized based on material type or recyclability. Responsibility for waste segregation lies with all societal sectors, from individuals to specialized companies.
In the UK, households typically sort waste by placing it into designated containers for specific materials, which are then collected from curbsides【5】.
Separated waste is sent to Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), where it undergoes more detailed sorting. Recyclable materials processed in these facilities include ferrous metals, aluminum, glass, polyethylene terephthalate, and mixed paper. There are two types of MRFs:
- Clean MRFs, which handle primarily recyclable household waste.
- Dirty MRFs, which manage solid waste containing a mix of recyclable and repairable materials【6】.
